Vote yes for Amendment #5

ON NOVEMBER 4TH Louisiana voters will decide whether to adopt an amendment to the state constitution removing the mandatory retirement age for Louisiana judges. There are many reasons why this is a good and reasonable proposal.
We know that judging a person based solely on his or her age is wrong. The experience and wisdom that comes with age are assets to Louisiana’s Justice system. Mandatory retirement deprives all society of the learning and knowledge that many a seasoned judge has developed during his or her career. Sometimes there is no substitute for acquired wisdom that comes with age.
Louisiana judges are the only elected officials in the state who have a “mandatory” retirement age. The 1975 Louisiana Constitution prohibits judges from seeking election or re-election once they reach the age of 70. However, the elected members of the Executive Branch and the elected members of the Legislature have no age prohibition.
Further, there is no age restriction for other elected officials in local government: district attorney’s, mayors, city council members, police jurors and sheriff’s. Furthermore, jurors, who are selected from the general public, and are called upon to decide criminal and civil cases, have no age restrictions.
In our grandfathers’ day, a man or woman of 70 was at the high end of their life expectancy. Today, 70 is seen as a good start. Seventy is the new 50.
We already have a robust system for removing judges. The Louisiana Supreme Court has authority to remove a judge from office in the event he or she is unable to serve due to mental or physical infirmity. In addition we should trust the collective wisdom of the voters who will know best who is qualified to serve, and not artificially limit their ability to elect or re-elect the person of their choice to serve as judge.
We urge voters to vote YES November 4 on Constitutional Amendment Number 5.
LSN
Editorials represent the opinions of this newspaper, and not of any one individual.